Guidelines

Guidelines are ruler lines that can be laid-down anywhere on the ADE screen. This can be useful, for example, when trying to place several objects in a straight line. Guidelines are proper ADE objects and as such can be added, deleted, moved, rotated and edited.   Undo/Redo works with them.   Guidelines are kept in the .ade file so will be saved between sessions.   They are not compiled into the .bgl file.

 

The tool tip for a guideline will tell you the length and heading of the line.   The base end (where the guideline reference point is located) has a simple cross line while the far end has an arrow.   Heading is from the base end.

 

Creating Guidelines

A Guideline can connect markers that have already been drawn or you can run a guideline between any two points and markers will be created at those points if they don't already exist. A guideline will snap to an existing marker if you start or end the line close to a marker.

Select the Guideline Tool from the toolbar. The mouse pointer will change to the guideline drawing symbol (a red cross).   Put the cross on the location where you want to start the line, press the mouse button and leave it down while you pull the line out to where you want it to end, then release the mouse button.

As you drag the guideline you will be able to see its current length and heading at top left of the display.   On completion a guideline object will be on the display:

 

 

The origin is marked with the cross bar and the   terminal end is marked with the small arrow head.   The tool tip shows length (in user defined units) and the heading taken from origin to end.   The default color is red but this can be changed by the user.   A selected guide will have a rotate handle and the arrow end and can be rotated around the origin.     The properties can be edited

 

Moving Guidelines

Like most objects, you can move a guideline by ‘grabbing’ it with the mouse and dragging it. You must be in Pointer mode to do this -- select the normal pointer from the toolbar.   They can also be rotated using the rotate handle.

 

Deleting Guidelines:

You can delete a guideline by selecting it and pressing the delete key or right click and delete.   You can Hide or Show guidelines from the View Menu.